Strawberry plant named ‘Camino Real’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct short-day strawberry cultivar is provided. Attractive mostly symmetrical-conic fruit of very good quality typically is formed in a good yield. The fruit flavor is good and the fraction of non-marketable fruit tends to be low. The growth habit is very compact. Relatively small broad concave leaflets are formed that display semi-pointed serrations.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinctive short-day type strawberry cultivar designated ‘Camino Real’ is provided that resulted from a cross performed in 1994 between advanced selections Cal 89.230-7 (non-patented in the United States) and Cal 90.253-3 (non-patented in the United States). The cultivar is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa Duch. The parentage of the new cultivar can be summarized as follows:

Cal 89.230-7×Cal 90.253-3.

‘Camino Real’ was first fruited at the University of California, Wolfskill Experimental Orchard, near Winters, Calif., U.S.A., in 1995, where it was selected, was originally designated Cal 94.3-11, and was propagated asexually by runners. The characteristics of the new cultivar have been found to be fully transmissible by such asexual propagation. Following selection and during testing the plant was designated ‘C213’, and subsequently has been named ‘Camino Real’ for introduction. Asexual propagules from this original source have been tested at the Watsonville Strawberry Research Facility, the South Coast Research and Extension Center of the University of California, and to a limited extent in grower test fields starting in 1996.

It was found that the new cultivar of the present invention exhibits the following combination of characteristics:

(a) Exhibits a very compact growth habit,

(b) Typically forms attractive mostly symmetrical-conic fruit of very good quality in a good yield, and

(c) Forms relatively small broad concave leaflets having semi-pointed serrations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The depicted plants and plant parts of the ‘Camino Real’ cultivar were grown at Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A.

FIG. 1—shows rows of typical fruiting plants during early May, 2000;

FIG. 2—shows a close view of a representative individual fruiting plant during early May, 2000;

FIG. 3—shows a one-half crate of representative fruit during early May, 2000;

FIG. 4—shows representative mature fruit externally on the upper row and internally on the lower row with dimensions in centimeters being shown at the left; and

FIG. 5—shows a typical mature leaf during late spring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

‘Camino Real’ as other short-day strawberry cultivars produces fruit over an extended period when treated appropriately in arid, subtropical climates. The production pattern for ‘Camino Real’ is similar to that of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,708), although it is somewhat later to initiate fruiting with most cultural treatments. ‘Camino Real’ will be of special interest for winter plantings where the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar has been successful, and in summer plantings where the ‘Pajaro’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,538) and the ‘Chandler’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262) have been successful.

Plants and Foliage

Fruiting plants of ‘Camino Real’ are smaller and more compact, more open, more erect, and less vigorous than plants of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. The ‘Camino Real’ plants are more compact but less erect than those of the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,461). Comparative statistics for foliar characters near mid-season are given for the three cultivars in Table 1 that follows. Individual leaflets of ‘Camino Real’ are smaller than those of the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars, and are somewhat more rounded than those of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. Leaves (including petioles) are similar in length to those of the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar, but are much broader. The leaves of ‘Camino Real’ are shorter and broader than those of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. Petioles are similar in thickness to those of ‘Gaviota’ cultivar. Leaves on vigorous plants of ‘Camino Real’ occasionally have 4 or 5 leaflets. ‘Camino Real’ has a consistently concave leaf form, generally much more concave than leaves of the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars, and has more and usually more pointed serrations than these comparison cultivars. Plant height and width values were obtained for established plants growing at Watsonville, Calif. that were established on October 23rd and were measured on January 21st. This is the industry standard for planting these cultivars at this location. The typical length and color of the stipule is provided. The stipule color varies somewhat depending on age and stage of development. Individual stipules commonly display a green interior and reddish margins. The stipules are substantially the same for all three varieties. Strawberry plants do not commonly produce stolons during the fruiting period in annual planted systems such as those used in California. The stolon information included in Table 1 is estimated from the initial stolon production in a foundation nursery located near Redding, Calif.

TABLE 1 Cultivar Foliar Character ‘Camarosa’ ‘Gaviota’ ‘Camino Real’ Plant height (mm) mean 56 54 62 range 40-70 50-50 50-70 Plant spread (mm) mean 167  143  193  range 150-200 130-155 165-220 Mid-Tier Leaflet Length (mm) mean 91 95 81 range  80 to 100  83 to 109 64 to 90 Width (mm) mean 83 95 82 range  68 to 104  71 to 105 62 to 95 Mid-Tier Leaf Length (mm) mean 313  254  252  range 256 to 426 201 to 314 199 to 314 Width (mm) mean 161  182  150  range 130 to 183 146 to 205 125 to 173 Leaf components Petiole length (mm) mean 209  168  170  range 171-285 133-208 135-212 Petiole diameter (mm) mean 3.0 3.2 3.1 range 2.9-3.1 3.1-3.4 2.9-3.3 Petiolule length (mm) mean 11 11 11 range  9-16  9-14  9-14 Number of 3 3 3, rarely 4 or 5 Leaflets/Leaf Leaf Convexity flat-convex, most most are very concave are slightly concave, some concave flat Serrations number/leaf (mean) 19.4 17.8 17.8 range 18-21 16-19 17-20 shape rounded, some rounded to semi-pointed semi-pointed semi-pointed Leaf Pubescence light-moderate light-moderate light Petiole Pubescence density moderate to heavy moderate heavy direction perpendicular to perpendicular perpendicular acropetal Petiole color 2.5 GY 5/5 2.5 GY 6/8 2.5 GY 6/8 (Munsell) Stipule length (mm) mean 22 21.8 26.2 range 20-23 21-23 23-30 Stipule color core 2.5 GY 6/8 2.5 GY 6/8 2.5 GY 6/8 margins 2.5 R 6/11 2.5 R 6/11 2.5 R 6/11 Stolons per nursery 215  194  184  mother plant Venation pattern pinnate pinnate pinnate Color (Munsell) 2.5 GY 6/8 2.5 GY 6/8 2.5 GY 6/8

The adaxial (upper) surfaces of leaves of ‘Camino Real’ are darker than those of the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar and the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar, and the abaxial (lower) leaf surface colors are similar. See Table 2 that follows.

TABLE 2 Cultivar Color Character ‘Camarosa’ ‘Gaviota’ ‘Camino Real’ Leaf Color (CIELAB)* Adaxial L* mean 32.3 29.0 27.4 range 30.8 to 34.6 27.4 to 30.0 26.1 to 28.5 a* mean −7.0 −7.0 −6.4 range −4.8 to −8.2 −6.1 to −7.7 −5.3 to −8.0 b* mean 14.0 11.5 11.1 range  9.4 to 18.4  9.7 to 13.7  9.4 to 14.3 Munsell 5GY 4/3 5GY 4/3 5GY 4/3 Abaxial L* mean 46.1 47.5 45.7 range 43.9 to 49.2 46.4 to 48.7 44.0 to 47.5 a* mean −7.6 −7.6 −7.5 range −6.8 to −8.0 −6.7 to −8.5 −6.6 to −8.3 b* mean 21.8 20.4 19.8 range 20.1 to 25.0 17.2 to 24.5 18.4 to 20.7 Munsell 2.5GY 5/5 2.5GY 5/5 2.5GY 4/3 *CIELAB is the abbreviation of the international color system known as “Commission Internationale De L' Eclairage” 1978. For recommendations concerning uniform color spaces, color difference equations, and psychometric color terms see Supplement No. 2 of CIE Publication No. 15, Paris.

Isozymes in Leaf Extracts

‘Camino Real’ has been classified for three isozyme systems using Starch Gel Electrophoresis: Phosophoglucoisomerase (PGI), Leucine Aminopeptidase (LAP), and Phosphoglucomutase (PGM). It is distinguishable from the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars using this methodology. See Table 3 that follows.

TABLE 3 Cultivar Locus ‘Camarosa’ ‘Gaviota’ ‘Camino Real’ PGI A2 A2 A2 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C1 C1 C3

For electrophoretic procedures see: J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684 to 687.

Disease and Pest Reactions

‘Camino Real’ is moderately susceptible to common leaf spot (Ramularia tulasnei) and somewhat sensitive to powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis). It is quite resistant to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) and Phytophthora crown rot (Phytophthora cactorum), and relatively resistant to Anthracnose crown rot (Colletotrichum acutatum). When treated properly, it has tolerance to two-spotted spidermites (Tetranychus urticae) equal or greater than ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’. ‘Camino Real’ is tolerant to strawberry viruses encountered in California.

Flowering, Fruiting, Fruit and Production Characteristics

Comparative statistics for flower and fruit characters near mid-season are given for ‘Camarosa’, ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camino Real’ in Table 4 that follows. The primary flowers for ‘Camino Real’ are similar in size to those of the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars. The petals for all three cultivars are white on both surfaces. The petal apex for all three cultivars is flat across the top with slightly rounded edges to slightly rounded across the top. The sepals are somewhat larger than those of the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar and are similar to those of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. The number of sepals equals the number of petals for all three cultivars. The calyx for ‘Camino Real’ varies from slightly indented to slightly necked, and each primary flower has 5 to 8 petals. The fruit shape for ‘Camino Real’ can vary but is typically rounded or symmetrical conic, and is easily distinguishable from that of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar that is shortened flat conic. ‘Camino Real’ commonly has a greater proportion of symmetrical fruit than the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar. The fruit color information included in Table 4 was obtained using a reflectance spectrophotometer that integrates color over a 1.5 cm diameter circle. As indicated in FIG. 4, the internal fruit coloration is variable over a wide range and is lighter in the center than at the margin. This wide color variation is present in almost all strawberry cultivars. Achenes vary from yellow to dark red, and are generally even with the fruit surface or slightly indented. The pedicel information included in Table 4 was obtained on Jan. 21, 2002.

TABLE 4 Cultivar Character ‘Camarosa’ ‘Gaviota’ ‘Camino Real’ Number of Petals mean  6.3  5.9  5.8 range 5 to 8 5 to 8 5 to 8 Petal shape apex truncate to truncate to truncate to slightly obtuse slightly obtuse slightly obtuse base attenuate attenuate attenuate margin entire entire entire Petal length (mm) mean 14.4 14.4 17.4 range 14-15 13-15 16-19 Petal width (mm) mean 14.2 15.7 17.4 range 14-15 14-17 17-18 Flower Position mostly even exposed exposed (relative to some exposed foliage) Calyx Diam. (mm) mean 48.1 41.7 47.1 range 32 to 58 30 to 58 37 to 57 Corolla Diam. (mm) mean 35.6 37.9 26.8 range 30 to 47 32 to 48 32 to 42 Sepal length (mm) mean 17.8 16.2 19.8 range 17-20 15-17 19-20 Sepal width (mm) mean  6.4  9.6 6-8 range 6-7  9-11 6-7 Sepal color 7.5 GY 4/4 5 GY 4/3 5 GY 4/3 (Munsell) Pedicel length (mm) mean 93.2 72.8 76.0 range  85-112 62-87 72-80 Pedicel diameter (mm) mean  2.4  2.6  2.8 range 2.2-2.5 2.5-2.9 2.7-2.9 Pedicel color 5 GY 6/8 2.5 GY 6/8 5 GY 6/8 (Munsell) Fruit Shape Fruit length (mm) mean 54   54   56   range 42-63 45-70 48-68 Fruit width (mm) mean 49   44   50   range 39-72 37-51 43-62 length/width ratio 1.13 1.22 1.14 range 0.61 to 1.51 1.02 to 1.45 0.92 to 1.28 subjective short flat conic mostly rounded mostly conic, some flat symmetrical conic conic, some flat conic Calyx Position even to even to even to slightly necked slightly indented slightly indented Seed Position even to even even slightly indented

External and internal fruit color for ‘Camino Real’ is darker than that of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar, and slightly darker than that of the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar. See Table 5 that follows where CIELAB fruit color information is presented.

TABLE 5 Cultivar ‘Camarosa’ ‘Gaviota’ ‘Camino Real’ External L* mean 23.3 22.4 20.1 range 20.7 to 27.0 20.3 to 24.5 15.6 to 22.9 a* mean 26.6 28.2 26.3 range 21.6 to 29.5 25.3 to 31.4 21.6 to 29.4 b* mean 12.8 14.8 13.6 range  9.9 to 14.6 12.0 to 17.7  7.8 to 20.3 Munsell 2.5R 3/7 5R 3/7 5R 3/7 Internal L* mean 44.0 48.1 40.2 range 40.7 to 46.9 44.3 to 53.9 26.3 to 45.4 a* mean 41.4 37.2 39.2 range 35.0 to 45.1 26.1 to 41.3 31.8 to 43.6 b* mean 29.9 28.6 28.8 range 24.1 to 35.3 19.9 to 32.6 19.8 to 35.5 Munsell 5R 4/12 5R 5/13 5R 5/13

Performance

‘Camino Real’ has been tested under a variety of cultural regimes, and optimal performance is obtained when nursery treatments and nutritional programs similar to those used with the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars are employed. In general, ‘Camino Real’ is less adapted to very early season planting but less sensitive to excess chilling than the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. ‘Camino Real’ retains excellent fruit quality in summer planting systems.

When treated with appropriate planting regimes, ‘Camino Real’ has larger fruit and produces greater individual-plant yields than the ‘Gaviota’ or ‘Camarosa’ cultivars. ‘Camino Real’ is intermediate to the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars in its production pattern. It is somewhat later to initiate production than the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar, with conventional winter planting in central California but has earlier average production than the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar. Commercial appearance ratings have been better than those for the ‘Gaviota’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars and trials conducted at Santa Maria, Calif., U.S.A. in 1998 to 1999 have indicated that the fraction of non-marketable fruit is approximately one-half that produced by the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. Fruit for ‘Camino Real’ is substantially firmer than the fruit of the ‘Gaviota’ cultivar, and is similar in firmness to that of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. Subjectively, the ‘Camino Real’ fruit has very good flavor. The fruit will be outstanding for both the fresh market and for processing, and will be useful for home garden purposes as well. See the comparative data presented in Table 6 that follows. There information is provided for plants that were evaluated during 1998 and 1999 at the Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A., Research Faculty of the University of California. Such plants had been asexually reproduced by the use of runners at Macdoel, Calif., U.S.A., were harvested on October 15^(th), and were subjected to supplemental storage for approximately 7 to 10 days prior to being transplanted. The test planting consisted of 52 inch two-row beds, 17,300 plants/acre. Harvest was initiated in early April and continued through the last week of August.

TABLE 6 Yield Appearance Size Cultivar (g/plant) Score (g/fruit) Firmness ‘Camarosa’ 1,783 3.3 27.2 7.7 ‘Gaviota’ 1,437 3.5 27.8 7.1 ‘Camino Real’ 1,813 3.8 31.1 7.6

‘Camino Real’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct short-day strawberry plant cultivar that exhibits the following combination of characteristics: (a) Exhibits a very compact growth habit, (b) Typically forms attractive mostly symmetrical-conic fruit of very good quality in a good yield, and (c) Forms relatively small broad concave leaflets having semi-pointed serrations; 